Strap seal



E. J. JOFFE Dec. 21, 1965 STRAP SEAL Filed Nov. 29, 1963 I NV ENTOR.

United States Patent ()flice 3,224,056 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 3,224,056 STRAP SEAL Edward J. Jofi'e, Summit, N..I., assignor to Park Plastics Co. Inc., Linden, N..I., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 326,924 9 Claims. (CI. 2416) This invention relates to a fastener adapted also to function as a seal. Particularly, my invention relates to means for holding a strap or straps in a particular adjusted position, and against release.

I appreciate fully that devices having the general characteristics I have just outlined are quite old in the art, and that numerous patents have issued covering such devices. However, so far as I know, there has never been contributed a fastening and sealing member, such as disclosed by me in this application, and involving no movable parts, or means requiring adjustment or complex manipulation.

As a feature of my invention, I utilize a head member having a passage formed with ratchet teeth, preferably at opposed sides of the passage. A strap portion that is formed with ratchet teeth is adapted for cooperation with the ratchet teeth of one of the opposed sides of the passage, while a second strap portion having ratchet teeth coacts with the ratchet teeth at the other of said opposed sides of the passage. The two strap portions, which are preferably smooth where not ratcheted, are so closely positioned within the passage, that it is impossible for either of the strap portions to move in a release direction outwardly of the passage, because of the coaction of the ratcheted surfaces.

Actually, in one form of my invention, the head having a passage is formed integral with a flat strap that is ratcheted on one flat surface, the head and strap being preferably both made of a relatively flexible plastic material, with the ratchet portions formed when the strap and its head are cast. By particularly manipulating the strap relatively to the ratcheted passage in the head, a nonreleasable loop is formed, usable for any number of purposes where seals and fasteners are required. As a particular further feature of the invention, it is possible to tighten this loop through the flexing of the cooperating ratchets, but it is impossible to release the loop.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily by utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a strap and integral head made in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the relation of the strap to the passage in the head a the strap is first inserted into the passage;

FIG. 4 shows the parts of FIG. 3 with the end of the strap looped backwardly into the passage for the final securing of the strap relatively to the head. FIG. 4 actually is a section along lines 4--4 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view and shows the strap adjusted into a loop that cannot be released.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates the strap of my invention having a series of ratchets 11 formed on one flat side thereof, the other flat side being designated by reference numeral 12, and being relatively smooth. Formed integrally with the strap 10 is a head 13 having a passage 14, as is well shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Formed on the upper side of the passage 14 are ratchet teeth 15, ratchet teeth 16 being formed on the lower side of the passage 14. It is of course obvious that because the strap and head are formed of a plastic material, the strap may be looped or flexed, and that the ratchet teeth 11, 15 and 16 will have some yield.

In utilizing the invention, a loop is formed by manipulation of the strap 10 as best seen in FIG. 5. The end of the strap 10 is first led through the opening 14 as shown in FIG. 3, and is then folded backwardly on itself as shown in FIG. 4, and reinserted into the passage 14. It is now obvious that the ratchet teeth 11 coact with the ratchet teeth 16 and also with the ratchet teeth 15 as best seen in FIG. 4 to lock the strap portions within the passage and against movement except in a locking direction.

Thus, the ratchet teeth 11, 16 will permit movement of the lower strap portion in the passage 14 in FIG. 4 only in the direction of the arrow 20. On the other hand, the ratchet teeth 11, 15 will permit movement of the strap portion in the passage 14 only in the direction of the arrow 21. This movement in one direction is possible because there will be some yielding of the ratchet teeth in one direction. Because the space within the passage 14 is fully filled by the back-to-back juxtaposed position of the two strap portions within the passage 14, release sliding of the two strap portions is impossible.

It is now obvious that without any moving parts whatsoever, my strap 10 can be formed into a circlet as shown in FIG. 5, with a portion of the strap looped for interlocking with the head 13. It will also be appreciated that once the circlet has been closed about any member to be sealed, or parts to be held, the strap circlet cannot thereafter be enlarged or released. It will be appreciated that in addition to a practically perfect seal, the strap will contribute a very considerable holding function so that it is valuable for many purposes.

I now claim:

1. In a combination of the class described, a strap having ratchet teeth formed thereon, a head having a passage formed with ratchet teeth at each of opposed sides thereof, said strap being of such thickness relatively to said passage that when passed through said head passage in one direction with its ratchet teeth facing one side of the passage and then folded and passed through said passage in a reverse direction, with its teeth facing in a reverse direction said strap fills said passage so that said teeth on said strap are in engagement with the ratchet teeth of said opposed sides of the opening, and said teeth on said opposite sides being oppositely shaped so that the strap portion at one side of the fold can move in said passage in one direction by the ratcheting of said teeth while the part at the other side of said fold can move only in an opposed direction by the ratcheting of said ratchet teeth.

2. In a combination of the class described, a strap having a series of ratchet teeth formed on a surface thereof, a head having a passage formed with ratchet teeth at each of opposed sides thereof, said strap when passed through said head passage in one direction with its ratchet teeth facing one side of the passage and then folded back on itself and passed through said passage in a reverse direction being of such size relatively to said passage as substantially to fill said passage with said ratchet teeth on said strap beyond the fold facing the ratchet teeth on the other side of said passage, and said ratchet teeth on each side of said passage being oppositely formed to permit movement of said strap in but one direction relatively to each of the opposed sides of said passage.

3. In a combination of the class described, a strap having ratchet teeth formed thereon, a head integral with one end of said strap and having a passage formed with ratchet teeth at each of opposed sides thereof, the free end of said strap when passed through said head passage in one direction with its ratchet teeth facing one side of the passage and then folded and passed through said passage in a reverse direction, substantially filling said passage, said ratchet teeth on said strap and on the sides of said passage being formed to permit movement of said strap portions at each side of the fold in one direction only relatively to said passage and with said one directions opposed.

4. In a combination of the class described, a fiat strap having ratchet teeth formed on one fiat side thereof, a head integral with one end of said strap and having a passage formed with ratchet teeth at each of opposed sides thereof, said strap when passed through said head passage in one direction with its ratchet teeth facing one side of the passage and then folded and passed through said passage in a reverse direction bringing its ratchet teeth then against the ratchet teeth at the other side of said passage and substantially filling said passage, said passage teeth being so formed as to permit ratcheting movement of the strap portions at each side of said fold in one direction only and with said directions opposed, locking said strap against removal from said passage.

5. In a combination of the class described, a flat strap having ratchet teeth formed on one flat side thereof, the other flat side being unratcheted, a head integral with one end of said strap and having a passage formed with ratchet teeth at each of opposed sides thereof, said strap when passed through said head passage in one direction With its ratchet teeth facing one side of the passage and then folded and passed through said passage in a reverse direction substantially filling said passage with the ratchet teeth of the strap portions at each side of the fold in en gagement with the ratchet teeth of each said opposed sides of said passage, and said ratchet teeth on said sides of said passage being formed to permit movement of said strap at each side of said fold in but one direction relatively to said passage and with said directions opposed.

6. In a combination of the class described, a head formed with a passage therethrough, the upper and lower opposed surfaces of said passage having ratchet teeth formed thereon, a pair of flat strap portions having ratchet teeth on one side and adapted to be juxtaposed with the smooth sides thereof in back to back position in said passage and the ratchet teeth of one of said strap portions engaging the upper ratchet teeth while the ratchet teeth on the other strap portion engage the lower ratchet teeth, said passage teeth being so formed as to permit ratcheting movement of each of the strap portions in said passage in one direction only and with said directions opposed.

'7. In a combination of the class described, a head formed with a passage therethrough, opposed surfaces of said passage having ratchet teeth formed thereon, a pair of strap portions having ratchet teeth on certain surfaces While also having unratcheted surfaces and adapted to be juxtaposed with said unratcheted surfaces in back to back position in said passage while the ratchet teeth of said strap portions engage the ratchet teeth of the opposed surfaces of said passage, said straps when so positioned in said passage substantially filling said passage to prevent disengagement of said ratchet teeth on said strap portions from the ratchet teeth on the opposed surfaces of said passage, and said passage teeth being so formed as to permit ratcheting movement of each of the strap portions in said passage in one direction only and with said directions opposed.

8. In a combination of the class described, a flat strap having ratchet teeth formed on one fiat surface thereof with the opposed flat surface smooth, a head having a passage formed with ratchet teeth at each of opposed sides thereof, said strap when passed through said head passage in one direction with its ratchet teeth facing one side of the passage and then folded and passed through said passage in a reverse direction occupying said passage With its smooth surfaces in contact, said passage being of such size relatively to the size of said strap that said strap when so folded substantially fills said passage with the ratchet teeth of said strap engaging the ratchet teeth of each side of said passage, said passage teeth being so formed as to permit ratcheting movement of each of the strap portions in said passage in. one direction only and with said directions opposed.

9. In a combination of the class described, a strap having a continuous series of ratchet teeth formed on one surface thereof with the opposed surface smooth thereon, a head integral with one end of said strap and having a passage formed with ratchet teeth at each of opposed sides thereof, the free end of said strap when passed through said head passage in one direction with its ratchet teeth facing one side of the passage and then folded and passed through said passage in a reverse direction with its smooth surfaces in contact, occupying said passage with the ratchet teeth of its free end beyond the fold also engaged with said ratchet teeth and with the strap substantially filling said passage while permitting each portion of said strap at one side of the fold thereof to move in said passage in one direction only by the ratcheting action of said teeth.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,915,268 12/1959 Wrober 2416 3,009,220 11/1961 Fein 24l6 3,118,200 l/1964 Bell 24-16 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

